36 min listen
Ruth Davidson is the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives and now sits in the House of Lords as the Baroness of Lundin Links. On the episode, she speaks to Katy about her happy upbringing as an active tomboy despite a near-death car accident at the age of five; her mother's reaction when she left the BBC to join the Scottish Tories ('she was appalled'); and gave a punchy defence of Theresa May ('I absolutely think the Party did her wrong').
It has been the privilege of my life to serve as the leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party. The almost eight years I've spent at the helm have coincided with one of the most remarkable and important periods of recent Scottish political history. I am proud of the teams we have built in Holyrood, Westminster and in council chambers across the country and proud of our electoral successes in recent years. All of that pales in significance compared to the vital role our party undertook in the Scottish independence referendum of 2014. I will always consider that the most important contribution of my working life and my commitment to keeping the United Kingdom together remains undimmed.
Friends, it’s great to be back here in Birmingham. Seven years ago, I came to conference looking to lead the party north of the border. I promised you I would grow the Conservative family in Scotland. Well, never let it be said, I’m not a woman of my word. Conference, there are plenty of things I could talk to you about today. I could tell you about the fantastic work our 31 MSPs are doing in Holyrood, day by day holding Nicola Sturgeon’s miserablist SNP government to account. I could let you know about the work of our superb 13 Scottish Conservative and Unionist MPs. Who, day by day, are showing that you can stand up for Scotland, without walking out on the UK.
At last night's Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year awards, Ruth Davidson was crowned parliamentarian of the year. Here is the acceptance speech she delivered: Thank you. It’s so much nicer to be welcomed on stage by Michael today than the last time he did it, which was at a Scottish Conservative party conference in the Albert Halls in Stirling, where he introduced me as the new David Moyes of Scottish politics – which is true, and at the time was meant as a compliment – but football changes quickly, as well as politics. Thank you very much for this award today. It is actually accepted on behalf of everybody who plies their trade outside of SW1.
On Thursday morning I’m woken by day three of a tension headache firing tentacles up the back of my neck and the base of my skull then burrowing into the cortex beneath. I am drenched in sweat, with dread balled in my stomach. My back throbs thanks to the ire of a decade-old spine break that has never fully healed. I spit blood, mixed with toothpaste, into the sink. My skin has broken out into the kind of volcanic fury not seen since my teenage years and my nails are bitten down to stumps. I love election campaigns. But polling days are their own special torture. Scots will have had two referendums and two elections in 21 months, which means I’ve spent years on the road.
